Resources
Blog
Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
Latest articles
Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
Quick answer: When evaluating event management software, look at six things: built-in audience engagement features, support for hybrid events, end-to-end management from planning to analytics, proven expertise in virtual events, customization and branding options, and accessibility features such as subtitles and live translation. A platform that covers all six keeps your event running smoothly.
Your event management software is one of the most important factors in whether your event is a convenient success or a stressful mess. With so many platforms on the market, it helps to have a clear checklist. Below we walk through the six criteria that separate software worth your budget from software that will let you down on the day.
Keeping your audience engaged is one of the most important parts of running a successful event. It’s the difference between attendees leaving satisfied and attendees losing respect for your business after the event.
Choose an event management software that offers built-in features to engage your audience, like breakout rooms you can open with a single click. Look for gamification features
Throughout 2020, when only virtual events were safe and practical, many organizations discovered the benefits of going virtual, like reaching audiences around the world who wouldn’t be able to travel to an in-person event. Now that traditional events are back, a hybrid event gives you the best of both worlds.
The tricky part is finding software built to run a hybrid event efficiently. Look for features like a mobile app that engages in-person and virtual audiences at the same time, so neither group feels like an afterthought.
Planning an event, whether it’s virtual, in-person, or hybrid, is a complex project that requires extensive organization and strategizing. The process (and your event) runs far more smoothly with an event management system that can handle all aspects of the event in one place.
You want an end-to-end system that carries you through the planning, execution, and post-event data analysis stages. Opt for a comprehensive platform that tracks your attendees, plans your schedule of sessions, streams your virtual sessions, and analyzes attendee data during and after the event.
If your event has a virtual component, the stakes are high for your event management software. A single technical glitch could make your event inaccessible to attendees and ruin all of your planning and financial investment in one fell swoop.
That’s why you need a provider with a trusted reputation for running digital events smoothly. Canapii, for example, has powered 2,000+ events for 300,000+ attendees across 45+ countries since 2020, with 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support.
For your event to run successfully, you need to control as many aspects of the experience as possible. This is why you need event management software that is highly customizable.
That goes for both the functionality and the design of the platform. On top of offering a variety of activities and feature settings for your event, the software should also let you brand the audience-facing areas of the platform so the whole event looks and feels like yours.
Virtual events don’t only open your event to people from all over the world, but also to people who could not attend in person for other reasons. For example, people with certain disabilities may find it easier to attend a virtual event.
To serve these audience members, look for event management software that provides accessibility features. For instance, you may want automatic subtitles for people with hearing loss, or even subtitles that automatically translate your speakers’ words into each virtual attendee’s most comfortable language.
Weigh every shortlisted platform against the six criteria above: engagement, hybrid support, end-to-end coverage, virtual expertise, customization, and accessibility. A successful event builds your reputation, connects you with new leads and collaborators, and facilitates important educational initiatives across your industry - and your software determines whether that happens smoothly or not at all.
Six things: built-in audience engagement, support for hybrid events, end-to-end management from planning through post-event analytics, proven expertise in virtual events, customization and branding options, and accessibility features such as subtitles and live translation.
A hybrid event combines in-person and virtual attendance, so you reach both local and global audiences. Software built for hybrid, such as a mobile app that engages both groups at once, keeps the two experiences connected instead of running two disjointed events.
One system covers the full event lifecycle: planning and scheduling, attendee tracking, live streaming, and data analysis during and after the event, so you are not stitching together separate tools at each stage.
Features like automatic subtitles and live translation open your sessions to attendees with hearing loss and to audiences who prefer another language, widening both the reach and the inclusivity of your event.
See how Canapii measures up against all six criteria, from audience engagement and hybrid support to accessibility: get a demo.